Enrollment
478
Louisiana · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Baton Rouge, LA
Southern University Lab School
Federal NCES profile for Southern University Lab School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 36/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 220002301921
👥 S:T ratio 38
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 4
📋 Attendance 72
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Southern University Lab School earns 36/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Louisiana median. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most Louisiana schools.
- #43 of 59
- schools in Baton Rouge · Resource Index
- 36
- Resource Index · Typical
- 15.4:1
- students per teacher
- 49.2%
- free-lunch eligible
Southern University Lab School has class sizes near the Louisiana median. Computed live against every Louisiana school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Southern University Lab School ranks #43 of 59 schools in Baton Rouge, LA.
School address
District: Southern University Lab School · Louisiana
NCES ID 220002301921 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
31.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
15.4:1
vs 16.8:1 Louisiana avg
-8% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
49.2%
vs 62.5% Louisiana avg
-21% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Southern University Lab School compares with Louisiana and U.S. medians
What stands out at Southern University Lab School
Southern University Lab School is a mid-sized combined-grade school in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, enrolling 478 students.
Class sizes run a bit leaner than typical: 15.4:1 puts it in the smaller third of Louisiana schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 49.2% of students eligible for free meals.
With 478 students, its enrollment sits close to the Louisiana median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 1,330 scored Louisiana schools.
Among 359 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Louisiana schools statewide, it ranks #306, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is predominantly African American (98% of enrollment), among the less diverse in the state (diversity index 4/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 478 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
11.1% of students were chronically absent in the 2021-22 collection, in line with the post-pandemic national range.
The surrounding Southern University Lab School spends $6,567 per pupil, 60% below the Louisiana average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Among Baton Rouge's public schools, it stands alongside University View Academy Inc. (Frm La Connections) (3,725 students): Southern University Lab School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (15.4:1 vs 20.6:1).
Its district, Southern University Lab School, also runs Southern University Laboratory Virtual School (299 students).
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How Southern University Lab School compares
Southern University Lab School on the metrics families compare, against Louisiana and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Louisiana | Louisiana avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 15.4:1 | ▼ 8% | 16.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 49.2% | ▼ 21% | 62.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 478 | top 43% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.4:1
Leaner classes than 43% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
478
Bigger than 59% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
49.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 21% below the Louisiana average of 62.5%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
15.4:1
students per teacher
- 8% below state mean
Top 40% in Louisiana - lower ratio than 60% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
11.1%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 10-15% range, above the pre-pandemic national baseline but within the broader post-pandemic picture.
Funding equity
$6,567
per pupil, district-wide
- below Louisiana avg of $16,376
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 478 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 53 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 11.1 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
African American 97.9%
Hispanic or Latino 1.0%
Two or More 0.6%
White 0.2%
Asian 0.2%
Largest group: African American at 97.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 4.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 4.1, Southern University Lab School is less mixed than the Louisiana school average of 43.9.
Programs
AP courses offered 4
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Southern University Lab School, which includes Southern University Lab School.
$6,567
Per student
-60%
vs Louisiana
Avg $16,376
-60%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 21.6%
State 68.2%
Federal 10.2%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How Southern University Lab School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southern University Laboratory Virtual School | Smaller | Higher economic need | No ratio data |
Comparisons are relative to Southern University Lab School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 299
- Students per teacher
- -
- Resource Index
- 53/100
Similar other schools in Baton Rouge
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
University View Academy Inc. (Frm La Connections)
Standard public school
3,725 students 20.6:1 students per teacher
Louisiana Virtual Charter Academy
Standard public school
2,239 students 28.3:1 students per teacher
Lsu Laboratory School
Standard public school
1,463 students 11.8:1 students per teacher
Idea Bridge
Standard public school
1,122 students 21.2:1 students per teacher
South Baton Rouge Charter Academy
Standard public school
819 students 12.8:1 students per teacher
Idea Innovation
Standard public school
797 students 14.5:1 students per teacher
Similar other schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Louisiana, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~478 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Southern University Lab School's federal record.
- Compare Southern University Lab School against another school. Compare schools
- Southern University Lab School's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about Southern University Lab School
How many students attend Southern University Lab School?
Southern University Lab School has 478 students enrolled. It is a public school in Baton Rouge, LA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Southern University Lab School?
The student-teacher ratio at Southern University Lab School is 15.4:1, which is 8% lower than the Louisiana average of 16.8:1 and 2% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Southern University Lab School?
49.2% of students at Southern University Lab School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Louisiana average of 62.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Southern University Lab School?
The largest demographic group at Southern University Lab School is African American at 97.9% of enrollment, in Baton Rouge, LA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Southern University Lab School?
Southern University Lab School has a Resource Investment Index of 36/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, AP course offerings, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Southern University Lab School rank among schools in Baton Rouge?
By Resource Investment Index, Southern University Lab School ranks #43 of 59 schools in Baton Rouge, LA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Baton Rouge on the city page.
Is Southern University Lab School a good school?
Southern University Lab School earns 36/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Louisiana median. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most Louisiana schools. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Southern University Lab School?
Besides Southern University Lab School, Southern University Lab School also operates Southern University Laboratory Virtual School (299 students). See the Southern University Lab School district page for the complete list.
Related tools
Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.